Justice for Ese Oruru: The Abduction, Abuse, and Long Road to Justice!
Reported by Marian opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa
The tragic story of Ese Rita Oruru, the 13-year-old schoolgirl abducted from her home in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on 12 August 2015, remains one of Nigeria’s most haunting reminders of child exploitation, religious manipulation, and systemic failure in the protection of minors.
Ese, the youngest child of Charles and Rose Oruru, was kidnapped from her mother’s shop by Yunusa Dahiru (alias Yellow), a tricycle operator, and taken to Kano State. There, she was forcibly converted to Islam, renamed Aisha, and married off without the consent of her parents. Disturbingly, these events unfolded within the palace of the then Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, raising national outrage and questions about complicity in the abuse of minors.
A Childhood Interrupted
Born on 22 February 2002 in Delta State, Ese grew up in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, where she was known for her vibrant Christian faith. Described by her brother as “one of the strongest Scripture Union members,” Ese was deeply involved in evangelism and church life. Her dream was to become a nurse, a vision nurtured by her love for mathematics and her humility in school. Tragically, her abduction denied her the chance to sit for the Junior Secondary Certificate Examination.
The Abduction and Forced Marriage
On the night of 12 August 2015, Dahiru lured Ese away while her parents were absent. She was transported to Kano and taken to the Emir’s palace. Despite her mother’s desperate attempts to recover her, including journeys to Kano accompanied by police officers, Ese was repeatedly denied access and effectively held hostage under the guise of religious conversion and marriage.
In a brazen disregard for parental authority and Nigerian law, Dahiru claimed Ese had willingly followed him. By the time her case gained national attention, she had already been subjected to sexual abuse and indoctrination.
National Outrage and Rescue
Ese’s plight came to the spotlight through a campaign led by The Punch Newspaper, sparking widespread outrage across Nigeria. For months, her parents faced dead ends until 29 February 2016, when the Kano State Police finally rescued her. On 2 March 2016, Ese was reunited with her mother in Abuja, though the reunion carried deep pain: she was already five months pregnant with her abductor’s child.
Trial and Conviction
On 8 March 2016, Yunusa Dahiru was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa on charges of abduction, child trafficking, illicit sex, sexual exploitation, and unlawful carnal knowledge. He pleaded not guilty, prolonging an already agonizing process for the victim and her family.
After years of trial delays, justice finally came on 21 May 2020, when the court convicted Dahiru and sentenced him to 26 years in prison.
A Symbol of Nigeria’s Struggle for Child Protection
The ordeal of Ese Oruru exposed glaring gaps in Nigeria’s child protection system, the misuse of cultural and religious institutions, and the urgent need for stronger policies safeguarding the rights of minors.
Her story is more than an individual tragedy—it is a national wake-up call. It forces Nigerians to confront questions of justice, gender rights, religious manipulation, and the failure of state institutions in protecting vulnerable children.
As Ese continues her journey of healing, her resilience embodies the fight for countless Nigerian children still vulnerable to similar abuse.
About The Author
Discover more from Sele Media Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
